13 High-Maintenance Houseplants That Aren’t Worth the Effort

Houseplants help clean our air, beautify our living spaces, and destress our busy lives. So why do most of us bite off more than we can chew and grow sensitive plants that need more attention than our pets? 

As gardeners, we love a good challenge. But sometimes, we go too far. When houseplants require so much care that they cause us stress, it defeats the purpose of gardening. 

From sensitive tropical ferns to picky orchids, these high-maintenance houseplants will give even experienced gardeners a headache. Below are 13 difficult-to-maintain houseplants that may not be worth the effort. 

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Habenaria Orchid

	common name Habenaria Orchid
	botanical name Habenaria spp
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height Up to 18”
	hardiness zones 6-10

Habenaria orchids are mostly terrestrial species that produce some of the most vivid and almost neon-colored flowers of any orchid. There are almost 900 species in this huge genus, with most hybrids coming from Asia. They’re one of the most difficult orchids, thanks to their dormancy period and finicky water and temperature needs. 

They need a well-drained medium that’s high in perlite or orchid bark. You have to keep their soil consistently moist throughout their growing period, or they’ll quickly dry out. 

In the fall, usually around November, habenaria orchids start to fade away and enter their dormancy period. When the foliage turns yellow, you’ll have to stop watering them completely. You can either remove the tubers and place them in a bag with dry growing medium or keep them in their containers. If you take care of them well enough, they should re-grow in spring. 

Boston Fern

	common name Boston Fern
	botanical name Nephrolepis exaltata
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1-3”
	hardiness zones 10-13

Don’t get me wrong, I love growing Boston ferns. Their full foliage and jungle-like appearance make them irresistible when they’re healthy. However, these picky houseplants can give busy gardeners a headache. 

They’re from the tropical forests of Central and South America, where temperatures remain warm and consistent. They don’t respond well to changes in temperature, humidity, light, or containers. Most gardeners fail miserably by growing them too close to bright light and areas where the temperature drops. 

These beautiful ferns are also very sensitive to water levels. Most gardeners, including myself, have destroyed our Boston ferns by either giving them too much or too little water. If the humidity drops, it can also stress out these high-maintenance houseplants. So if you love a challenge or simply adore these plants, go for it! Otherwise, Boston ferns may not be worth the effort. 

Dracula Orchid

	common name Dracula Orchid
	botanical name Dracula spp
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height Up to 14”
	hardiness zones 10-11

Dracula orchids include the strange monkey-face orchid and around 120 other species. They are some of the strangest and most captivating orchids you can grow as houseplants. They’re also quite difficult not to kill, especially if you’re a novice orchid grower. 

These plants are epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees and other plants in the wild. They consume nutrients and water from the air instead of soil. They’re sympodial plants and grow out from a central rhizome. 

These orchids need a growing medium that can retain moisture, like sphagnum moss or coconut coir. They don’t respond well to direct light. Water them a day before the growing medium goes completely dry. Keep them between 60 and 80°F (16-27°C) with high humidity, or they’ll quickly show signs of stress. 

Zebra Plant

	common name Zebra Plant
	botanical name Aphelandra squarrosa
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 4-6’
	hardiness zones 11-12

Zebra plants have always given me trouble, especially when I lived in a drafty home in Northern Michigan. These high-maintenance tropical houseplants are from the humid forests of South America. They don’t respond well to changes in water levels or dips in temperature. 

During the summer, maintain a consistent watering schedule and avoid over-saturating the soil. Keep the humidity levels high at around 60% to 70% by using a humidifier or a water container near your plants. In winter, water a little less but keep enough moisture in the soil to prevent it from drying out. 

If you can keep them from dying, zebra plants adorn your home with thick and glassy leaves with striking zebra patterns. 

Banana ‘Cavendish’

	common name Banana ‘Cavendish’
	botanical name Musa acuminata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 20’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Cavendish bananas are the most common bananas grown commercially for their fruit. As common as they are globally, they make tricky houseplants. While some dwarf varieties thrive as houseplants, full-grown cavendish will probably give you more trouble than they’re worth. 

These tropical plants are native to Southeast Asia and need plenty of heat, humidity, and light. They also grow incredibly tall if you don’t know how to manage their height. They need tons of water to grow and rich, well-drained soil. 

For most gardeners, cavendish bananas take up way too much space indoors. Even if you get them growing, don’t expect them to produce fruit. Instead of full-grown varieties, try dwarf cavendish or other dwarf varieties instead. If you live in warm climates, try growing cavendish outdoors. 

Fiddle-Leaf Fig 

	common name Fiddle-Leaf Fig
	botanical name Ficus lyrata
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height Up to 10’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Fiddle-leaf fig trees are popular houseplants, but if you’re like me, you’ll spend way too much time keeping them happy. These broad-leaf houseplants seem to lose their leaves with just the slightest stress. If the temperature, light, or humidity levels are not exactly to their liking, they’ll drop their leaves and wilt. 

Even if you give them all the care you can give, you’ll notice brown spots on their leaves and patches of yellow. This makes them incredibly disappointing if you’re expecting tropical-looking foliage for little work. 

If you insist on growing them, keep temperature, humidity, and light levels as even as possible. Grow them in well-drained soil that’s full of nutrients. Even when their growing conditions go well, don’t be disappointed if aphids or scale insects destroy your progress. 

Elephant Ear

	common name Elephant Ear
	botanical name Colocasia spp.
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 3-10’
	hardiness zones 8-12

Elephant ears are high-maintenance houseplants native to Polynesia. They produce food crops such as taro, which is pounded to make the comfort food poi in Hawaii. Their leaves are also steamed and eaten in many cultures around the world. 

As important as they are for food, they are incredibly fussy houseplants. This is especially the case with their water intake. They’ll need big containers, full of well-drained soil to hold the amount of water they need to thrive. 

They can take up a lot of room, and before you know it, they’ve outgrown your indoor space. If you have to repot them, the calcium oxalate crystals in their sap can irritate your hands like poison ivy. Unless you’re dedicated, these tropical edibles are best left to outside gardens in warm climates. 

Inch Plant

	common name Inch Plant
	botanical name Tradescantia zebrina
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 6-14”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Inch plants, or Tradescantia, are popular houseplants that many novice gardeners try to grow. They have beautiful purple and green, heart-shaped leaves that radiate from vine-like stems. If you’ve seen them pouring from bookshelves or hanging baskets in living rooms, you may want to grow them in your home. 

But before you start planting them, it’s important to know that these tropical vines are not as easy to grow as you think. First, they grow very fast and can take over your home and other plants. If they don’t get enough light, they’ll produce unattractive leggy growth. 

You’ll have to prune them regularly to control their out-of-control growth. When you do, wear clean gloves to protect your skin from their irritating sap. 

Gardenia

	common name Gardenia
	botanical name Gardenia jasminoides
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-8’
	hardiness zones 7-11

Gardenias have a reputation for being challenging, yet many gardeners can’t resist their bright green foliage and delicious aromatics. As charming as they are, they are incredibly sensitive to light, temperature, and humidity changes. If you’re not diligent, you’ll love these delicate bloomers quickly. 

They need the right amount of light to bloom and just enough water through their growing season. They prefer acidic soil, that’s well drained and moist. You may need to fertilize them with a low-pH fertilizer to get the best blooms. 

Even if everything is going right, you’ll have to prune and deadhead their flowers consistently. Instead of growing them as houseplants, you can plant them outdoors in zones 7 to 11. They grow relatively easily as outdoor shrubs. 

Weeping Fig

	common name Weeping Fig
	botanical name Ficus benjamina
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 5-30’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Weeping figs are from the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia and Australia. In their native environment, they get filtered light through tall evergreen canopies. The climate is humid, warm, and stable. 

If you’re like me, your indoor environment is nothing like that. These small trees do well in warm and stable indoor environments, with the perfect amount of filtered light and humidity. If your indoor temperature drops below 65°F (18°C), they’ll show signs of stress. 

High humidity is another need for weeping figs that most homes in the US can’t provide. In winter, you’ll need a humidifier or a spray mister to keep the air moist. You also shouldn’t move them unless you want a pile of dead leaves on the floor. Sure, the environmental stress of your home won’t kill them, but keeping them healthy and looking their best takes a lot of work.

Calathea

	common name Calathea
	botanical name Calathea spp
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height Up to 36”
	hardiness zones 11-12

Calathea is a genus of popular tropical plants that produce some of the most beautiful foliage of any houseplant, but they can be very high-maintenance. Many species are now reclassified under the Goeppertia genus of plants. Regardless, both Calathea and Goeppertia are a pain to maintain. 

If you love these plants, you can get them to thrive by mimicking their native habitat. This involves growing them in light, well-drained soil, giving them a delicate amount of filtered light, and finding their ideal watering schedule. They also love growing in high humidity. 

If you live in an environmentally regulated house with stable temperatures and high humidity, these stunning plants won’t be a problem. However, if your home’s indoor climate fluctuates or gets chilly from time to time, consider growing something else. 

Azalea

	common name Azalea
	botanical name Rhododendron simsii
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 18-24″
	hardiness zones 6-8

Azalea are some of the easiest and most radiant bloomers in your outdoor garden. As indoor houseplants, they can be incredibly temperamental. They need cool, moist temperatures to bloom. If your home is above 65°F (18°C), you’ll have trouble getting these gorgeous flowers to thrive. 

Besides keeping your home consistently cool, you’ll have to monitor their watering schedule. Too much water and their soil will quickly become waterlogged. Too little, and your foliage will dry out, giving you a pathetic-looking houseplant. 

If you have a greenhouse with other cool-weather plants, your azalea will do just fine. However, there’s nothing like growing an azalea shrub outdoors. You can grow them as houseplants, but it’s better to let them flourish outside. 

Lavender 

	common name Lavender
	botanical name Lavandula spp
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Lavender is an aromatic perennial shrub that’s one of the world’s most beloved herbs. Its leaves and flowers turn tees, spice mixes, cakes, and overpriced lattes into magical creations. They’re easy to grow as outdoor shrubs in cool and sunny environments. As indoor houseplants, they’re quite difficult to get right. 

You’ll have to recreate their native environment indoors. First, you need plenty of direct sunlight. It also needs rocky and poor soil, not typical houseplant soil. 

The biggest problem with lavender indoors is it likes cold temperatures during its dormant winter phase. Cranking the heat will cause it to grow new foliage prematurely. Getting this herb to thrive indoors is usually not worth the effort. If you have space in your garden, try growing it outside.